How much are these kids supposed to talk? What is considered gifted?

My family keeps saying that LO is unusual for speaking in sentences already. I can't find any info about "giftedness" at this age but I don't think that she is gifted, just good with language. How many words or sentences do 18-20month use?

Comments (51)

My DS uses sentences as well, he's not gifted, he's bound to pick it up first when his big sis talks nonstop. There's a wide range of what is normal for this age, different kids work on different areas first and typically they all average out by 1st or 2nd grade. Unless you are worried that they aren't talking enough, why worry about how ahead you think they are?

I'm not sure if there is a cut-off with a label of "gifted" at this stage, but your LO certainly does sound advanced with language. Speaking in 2-3 word sentences wasn't on our ped's development checklist until 2-2.5 years old.

My LO knows more words than I care to try to count, but her sentences are limited. Most are things like "Daddy back!" (when DH comes home) or "Go park" (instructing us that we should go to the park). She also does a lot of miming and signing to get her point across, inserting any words she knows.

Side story becuase I thought this was adorable - this morning she was apparently saying "strawberry" when I asked her what she wanted for breakfast, but I had no idea. She then went into her room and brought me a book with a strawberry in it. She knows how to get her point across, I was impressed : )

My DS uses sentences as well, he's not gifted, he's bound to pick it up first when his big sis talks nonstop. There's a wide range of what is normal for this age, different kids work on different areas first and typically they all average out by 1st or 2nd grade. Unless you are worried that they aren't talking enough, why worry about how ahead you think they are?

Because my family is worried that she won't do well in school and needs special programs and what not. Like I'm not doing enough to nurture it (eyeroll). I don't think it's that serious she just happens to be good at talking right now. I'm just trying to gauge it. I think she is normal and they are trying to compare her to cousins who are just different.

I'm not sure if there is a cut-off with a label of "gifted" at this...

Posted
07/14/2014

I'm not sure if there is a cut-off with a label of "gifted" at this stage, but your LO certainly does sound advanced with language. Speaking in 2-3 word sentences wasn't on our ped's development checklist until 2-2.5 years old.

My LO knows more words than I care to try to count, but her sentences are limited. Most are things like "Daddy back!" (when DH comes home) or "Go park" (instructing us that we should go to the park). She also does a lot of miming and signing to get her point across, inserting any words she knows.

Side story becuase I thought this was adorable - this morning she was apparently saying "strawberry" when I asked her what she wanted for breakfast, but I had no idea. She then went into her room and brought me a book with a strawberry in it. She knows how to get her point across, I was impressed : )

That's so cute! That's why I think my LO is just like the other kids intelligence wise just a little more verbally expressive.

Because my family is worried that she won't do well in school and needs...

Posted
07/14/2014

Because my family is worried that she won't do well in school and needs special programs and what not. Like I'm not doing enough to nurture it (eyeroll). I don't think it's that serious she just happens to be good at talking right now. I'm just trying to gauge it. I think she is normal and they are trying to compare her to cousins who are just different.

Don't listen to them. If she truly is "gifted" or advanced for her age, then I'm sure she will do just fine in school no matter how much you work with her now. It's not like she'll become less intelligent or something. Just keep talking with her and telling her about the world around her, and she'll be fine.

"Gifted" is a label I don't agree with. All children are capapable of remarkable things, they're just different things. Children learn at different speeds and labeling one child " gifted" because he speaks clearly early; does middle school math in elementary school; reads chapter books in Kindergaretn; are all things our society might label a child as "gifted".

But what's the point? They are labeled that after taking several tests and evaluations and are forced to prove their " gifted ness". It puts pressure on the child once they are old enough to be aware of this "gift" when really they just most likely enjoy doing whatever it is they are good at doing.

Speaking at an early age is great! I love the example speech you shared, it's adorable! Don't let anyone pressure you into evaluating her, labeling her, or planning out her entire future. Enjoy her speech! Talk to her more, teach her languages and just enjoy her at this age! She's a baby! Enjoy her!